New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-12
NEW ISSUES.


in politics make it clear that they do not fully
comprehend the nature of the issues that TO-
ouire no hunting It is childish to fancy that
the Nation can be diverted from questions
uJon which the welfare of every citizen do
ponds; and the very existence Of free instlt-
tions, by some novel contrivance as baby Is
pleased with new rattle The frivolous and
thoughtless' may at times be so diverted. But
the great body Of practical and Intelligent
voters know that the questions upon which
they have been voting are real and vital, and
they refuse for the sake Of any novelty to let
90 their hold upon national policies which SO.
cure or promise solid prosperity. From honest
convictions they will go On voting as before.
until events make 1t plain to them that the
public welfare depends more upon some new
policy or measure than upon those for which
they have been contending.
There are ten million voters, Of whom ut
least three-quarters have strong beliefs In re-
gard to the tariff Not arguing as to what
kind of tariff is needed. they agree in realizing
that the question affects the success Of great in
dustries, and therefore, directly or indirectly.
tho personal welfare Of every citizen. Some
of them firmly believe that duties on imported
benefit of few Others as firmly believe that
the Investigation of industry which is attained
through Protection insures ineStimable benefits
to every citizen, makes the Nation strong In
peace and war, and prevents, as nothing else
can. that degradation OF labor from which
spring the gravest social and political pcrls.
These voters, having such beliefs, would be
most childish to abandon efforts In behalf OF
them, until convinced that the public pros
pcrity is to be moro largely and surely pro
NOTED by efforts in some other direction.
The situation is substantially the same In
regard to financial matters A great majority
Of the voters have strong and deeply rooted
beliefs respecting that question. Some OF
them firmly believe that expansion OF the cur
rency is necessary to the general wclfale; that
it defends the poor against the undue power
Of the rich; that it helps labor against capital.
Others with equal earnestness believe that re-
striction of the currency is necessary alike for
the maintenance of public faith and for the
development of industrial prosperity. Each
of these great bodies Of citizens has been striv-
ing for years to secure the public prosperity
through the measures they deem necessary.
It is not strange that they feel that it would be
efforts, affecting so clearly the welfare of in
dividual citizens In every part of the country.
until they are thoroughly convinced that more
can be done through other measures to pro
mote the general welfare.
In like manner the question Of honesty In
elections and freedom in suffrage at the South
has seemed and still seems, to great body Of
citizens, moro important than any other living
question Opposed to them are not merely
those political managers in the Southern States
who have secured victories by fraudulent
methods, but large body Of citizens who feel
that the existing evils in Southern political life
whatever they may be, can only be corrected
by action within the Southern States. and can
not be removed or lcssened by any protest or
interference in Northern States or by the gen
eral Government. This issue goes to the very
| foundation of our free institutions. Through
one policy or the other, it is necessary TO look
for an abatement Of the evils which, IL per.
mittcd to continue, render self government for
all of us fraud or farce. 1t would be child
ish in the last degree to suppose that citizens
having these beliefs will suddenly put them
aside, because some new political continuance
rattles in their ears, unless convinced that the
welfare Of the country depends more immcdi
ately upon action in a new direction
The old issues are not dead, because they 60
to the root of political action in a free govern
ment Others could be named, as every
thoughtful citizen will perceive, which are
equally fundamental in character. These ex-
list, and fix the attention Of citizens, because
their radical and lasting importance is known.
Those are foolish who imagine that divisions Of
opinion on such questions can DO suddenly
brushed away by inventing some new political
issue.